CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The railroad bridge over the Cumberland River in downtown Clarksville was left open all morning Thursday after an incident in which a crewman was trapped there overnight Wednesday.

The turnstile bridge was opened Wednesday for river traffic, but because of a broken clutch, the contractor at the bridge house could not close it, according to Noel Rush, spokesman for RJ Corman.

Clarksville Fire Rescue send out a boat to retrieve the man, but he didn't want to risk climbing down the ladder, since he didn't know how to swim, said Fire Marshal Ray Williams.

“Apparently he wasn’t in distress,” Williams said.

The crewman stayed the night in the heated control building, Rush said.

Thursday morning, a barge was being positioned in order to replace the clutch so the bridge could be returned to position and the crewman could be retrieved.

The bridge was expected back in position around 3 p.m. Thursday.

Rush said there shouldn't be any impact on rail travel, with no trains scheduled soon.

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The turnstile bridge over the Cumberland River in Clarksville was still open Thursday morning.(Photo: STEPHANIE INGERSOLL / THE LEAF-CHRONICLE)